Depends, if you're writing the Perl script under Unix you'll want to use DBI and DBD::ODBC with a suitable ODBC package (like OpenLink) to connect back to the Windows box. There currently isn't any feasible way to look at MS Access MDB files under Linux (I wish there were for a project I'm going to start work on soon, there is one tool I know of but it's very alpha...).

DBD::ODBC can be used under Windows as well, I'd need to track down some code to check up on how to do it, but I think it might just work out of the box. Check the docs first though. (Anybody want to refute that?)

Hmm if your boss wants to use Filemaker Pro, I'd suggest you check and see if there's an ODBC interface for it, I think there is, but I've never used it.

Cheers!